Drying-machine



(No Model.)

J. H. LORIMER.

DRYING MACHINE.

No. 445,226. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

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.IOI-IN II. LORIMER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRYING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,226, dated January27, 1891.

Application filed May 26, 1890- Serial No. 353,127. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN H. LORIMER, of the city and county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement inDrying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has reference to drying-machines adapted to dry textilefibers or fabrics; and it consists of certain improvements, which arefully set forth in the following specification and shown in theaccompanying draw ings, which form a part thereof.

In carrying out my invention I provide a closed chamber through whichendless aprons of perforated or slatted work are caused to pass, and arepreferably guided back and forth within the compartments and brought tothe outside, so that the materials may be laid upon the slatted Work orapron at a point outside of the closed chamber and then be conveyedthrough the closed chamber, and when dried passed out of the same againfor delivery. In connection with this endless apron there is employedone or more endless aprons located wholly within the closed chamber andadapted to work in conjunction With the firstmentioned apron forconveying the textile fibers back and forth through the chamber. Inconnection with these features I provide the chamber withinlet-ports forair or gas of any description, eitherhot or cold, and exhaustfans orsuction-creating devices so arranged with respect to the apron that theair is drawn through the drying-chamber and through the perforated orslatted aprons. Bythis means material is conveyed back and forth throughthe drying-chamber, and during its transit is subjected to st ongcurrents of air or gas which take up the moisture and carry it to apoint external to the drying-chamber, and thereby quickly and thoroughlydry the textile fiber or fabric being conveyed through the machine.

This machine is particularly adapted to the treatment of wool, cotton,or other loose fibrous material.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a sec tional elevation of adrying-machine embodying my invention on line 3 y of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is asectional plan view of same on line X X of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is across-sectional elevation on line Y Y of Fig. 1.

A is the closed drying-chamber, and is provided with an inlet-aperture Oand an outletapcrture D for the apron E, and one or more inlet-aperturesB for the drying air or gas, and one or more outlet-apertures 7t for theescapingmoist air or gases, leading to the suctionfans or exhausters K.The endless apron E is guided over wheels I and II at one end of themachine, taking, preferably, an upward oblique direction, and thenpasses through the aperture 0 to the interior of the dryingchamber. Whenthis apron reaches the distant side of the drying-chamber, it passesover a guide-roller G, and thence backward and forward over a series ofsimilar guiderollers G and emerges through the aperture D of thedrying-chamber, passing around the exterior wheel F and thence back tothe first-mentioned guide-wheel I. Vorking in conjunction with thisendless apron E is one or more endless aprons M, arranged wholly withinthe chamber A and guided around guide-wheels L and the guide-wheels G.The endless aprons M, as shown, lie close to the endless apron E andnroj ect at the places where they pass around the wheel L, so that thetext ile material which may be moved around the left-hand rollers orguide-wheels G may be properly received upon the endless aprons Mimmediately below. If desired, the rollers or wheels L may be of greaterdiameter than that shown in full lines, so as to form pockets betweenthe aprons to receive the material, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.1.

In place of using two such endless aprons M itis evident that oneendless apron may be employed, as indicated in dotted lines, so that itwould pass over the upper roller L, thence around upper right-hand wheelG, thence around lower left-hand wheel G, thence around lower right-handwheel G, thence under lower guide wheel or roller L, and thence to upperguide wheel or roller L. These aprons are preferably formed of twosprocket'chains, between which are metallic slats, as indicated in Fig.2, so as to form a good support for the material and at the same timepermit the free passage of air or gases through it. It is quite evidentthat the aprons might be made of wire or cords, and in fact might bemade in any suitable manner, so as to form open work, though I prefer toform them as first described.

lVind-guards S may be arranged along the sides of the machine to preventpassage of air around the aprons. They insure the air all passingthrough the aprons and materials being treated while being conveyed. bythe aprons.

The material will be placed upon the endless apron E, outside of thedrying-chamber, and after passing upward will enter the opening 0, andafter being carried through the drying-chamber to the distant side itwill pass around the wheel G and then between the aprons E and M, and soon until it finally emerges from the aperture D. During its passagethrough the machine the exhausters K cause a strong suction and insurethe drying air or gases, either cold or heated, as may be desired, topass through the material as it is conveyed through the dryingchamber.

, J is the drive or power wheel. It is quite evident that the aprons maybe made to travel in the opposite directions, if desired; or, ifpreferred, the air-currents may be caused to pass upward through themachine by connecting the exhauster with the apertures B, as indicatedin dotted lines at K, in which case the dryest air would meet the dryestportion of the material being treated and just before it passes outofthe machine.

The endless aprons M are driven by contact with the apron E and thesprocket-wheels G at the right-hand portion of the machine, and a commonspeed to the aprons is therefore insured.

I do not limit myself to the mere details of construction, as it isevident that such details might be modified in various ways.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a drying-machine, the combination of a closed chamber providedwith apertures for e emcee the admission of a drying medium, such as airor gas, with exhausters or fans for creating a current of air ordrying-gas through said machine in a vertical direction, an endlessapron of, open-work passing from the outside of the drying-chamber tothe interior thereof vthrough an aperture, thence back and forth throughsaid drying-chamber and to the exterior thereof through a secondaperture,

I guide-wheels for said apron, one or more endless aprons located whollywithin the dryingchamber and moving in close contact with I saidfirst-mentioned apron, and guide-wheels for said last-mentioned apron oraprons, the

site portion of the drying-chamber, an end-.

less apron E, of open-work,passingbackward and forward through thedrying-chamber, guide-wheels G within the drying-chamber for guiding thesaid endless apron, guidewheels H, I, and F, exterior to the drying:chamber, for guiding the said apron exterior to said dryingchamber forreceiving and delivering the material being dried, one or more endlessaprons M, arranged to travel in close juxtaposition with the endlessapron E at points wholly within the drying-chamber, and one or moreguide-rollers L for said aprons M, for bringing the said. aprons Mbeyond the apron E, where it passes over the adjacent guide-wheels G,whereby said aprons M may receiye and support the material being driedas it is conveyed over and around the lastment-ioned guide-wheels G.

In testimony of whichinvention I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN H. LORIMER.

WVitnesses:

R. M. HUNTER, ERNEST HOWARD HUNTER.

